Cuttlefish body structure. Cuttlefish
This is about a cuttlefish, the brightest photo. The animal is capable of reproducing literally in a second in its body all the colors of the rainbow and glows amazingly in the dark. Her ability to disguise herself as anything is a gift from God.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 1.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 1.2)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 1.3)
What color is cuttlefish ink? Unlike octopuses, they are not black, but brown! The inky liquid of the sea animal that you see in the photo is an excellent dye and flavoring and even a medicine.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 2.1)
The cuttlefish in the photo has a body like a jet engine that sucks in sea water and then throws it out with a sharp movement. The shell of a sea mollusk has air chambers to fill them if you need to rise to the surface, or empty them to sink to the bottom.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 3.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 3.2)
Sepia cuttlefish is one of the best seafood delicacies, admire the pictures. The meat is tender and extremely healthy, and the ink in the seasoning is the best dye and flavoring additive for the sea.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 4.1)
You've never seen a photo like this before. The largest cuttlefish in the world is the giant Australian sepia, measuring 1.5 meters and weighing up to 10 kg. Sweet beautiful monster!
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 5.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 5.2)
Is there blue-green blood? In cuttlefish - yes, because it contains green pigment, the blood of a mollusk is more terrible than human blood.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 6.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 6.2)
Some of the sea cuttlefish are terribly poisonous, ranking 7th in the top ten most poisonous animals on earth. Here is a photo of a painted and striped cuttlefish - a beauty.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 7.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 7.2)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 7.3)
Take a closer look at the photo of the cuttlefish's eye. It is unique in its complexity of structure and is similar to the human eye: it has a lens, ciliary muscles and an iris. The sea mollusk is very vigilant.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 8.1)
How is a cuttlefish similar to a turtle? It has a unique hollow shell that protects it and helps it descend or rise to different water levels. The bone from this cover is used to feed canaries, in Chinese medicine and in jewelry.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 9.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 9.2)
The cuttlefish belongs to the cephalopod class of mollusks, that is, its legs (tentacles) grow from the head (photo as a witness), and are skillfully used in its meals for cutting meat.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 10.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 10.2)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 10.3)
The sea cuttlefish has a huge heart potential: as many as 3 hearts. One carries green blood throughout the mollusk's body, while the other two pump blood to the gills.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 11.1)
Cuttlefish stalking prey
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 11.2)
The cuttlefish gives birth to babies once in its life and dies soon after, barely reaching 2 years of age. Photo of cuttlefish eggs, black or white, similar to a bunch of grapes, attached to vegetation.
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 12.1)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 12.2)
(Photo of cuttlefish No. 12.3)
What is a sea cuttlefish? Hearing this question, an image of some shapeless and incomprehensible animal immediately appears before your eyes. Although, perhaps, knowledgeable people would not talk about cuttlefish like that, because these animals can be incredibly beautiful, but they cannot be called shapeless at all. Cuttlefish belong to the class of cephalopods.
Appearance of cuttlefish
The body of the animal is elongated-oval and slightly flattened. The main part of the body is formed by the mantle. The role of the skeleton is played by the internal shell - and this is a feature inherent only to cuttlefish. The head and body are fused. The eyes are complex and are located on the head of the mollusk. There is also something like a beak on the cuttlefish’s head; this natural “device” greatly helps the mollusk in obtaining food. Like many cephalopods, the cuttlefish has an ink sac.
The broad-armed cuttlefish, or broad-armed sepia (Sepia latimanus) is the largest species of these animals.
The mollusk has eight legs called tentacles. And each such tentacle is literally studded with small suckers. There are fins on both sides of the body, with the help of which the animal makes swimming movements.
The animal's body size is relatively small for representatives of the cephalopod class. The average adult cuttlefish reaches a length of about 20 centimeters. There are larger cuttlefish, but these are only representatives of certain species.
A notable feature of these mollusks is the ability to change the color of their body. Just like a chameleon! This process in cuttlefish is possible thanks to chromatophore cells located on the skin.
The most famous types of cuttlefish are:
- Common cuttlefish;
- Broad-armed cuttlefish (this is the largest of all cuttlefish: its length is about 1.5 meters and its weight is up to 10 kilograms);
- Painted cuttlefish (the most attractive among these mollusks, but poisonous);
- Striped cuttlefish (nicknamed the “pajama cuttlefish”, also very poisonous);
- Pharaoh cuttlefish.
Habitat of cuttlefish
The habitats of these mollusks are located in the tropical and subtropical zones of the seas washing the shores of Africa and Eurasia (part of the so-called “Old World”). However, the striped cuttlefish was found even off the coast of Australia.
Lifestyle and behavior
Cuttlefish are solitary mollusks. And only during the mating season they can be seen in groups. Occasionally, these animals are ready to migrate somewhere, but the majority live in one place all their lives.
These mollusks are very careful. They are quite easy to scare. They usually behave calmly and prefer leisurely movements under water. The depth of residence is shallow - these animals always try to stick to the coastline.
Scientists believe that cuttlefish are one of the most intelligent representatives of invertebrate animals.
What does cuttlefish eat?
Everything that is smaller in size and lives in the water ends up on the cuttlefish’s “dining table.” The main food for these unusual animals are fish, crabs, shrimp, worms, and other shellfish.
Reproduction of cuttlefish
As for breeding offspring, cuttlefish have their own unique feature: they reproduce only once in their entire lives, after which they themselves die.
The mating season is very interesting. Individuals gather in entire flocks and choose their partners. After the choice is made, the mating game begins. Males and females shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow, thus showing their mood and relationship to their partner. Male individuals gently stroke their “bride” with tentacles, seeking her favor.
The striped cuttlefish (Sepioloidea lineolata) is another deadly poisonous species. It lives in the waters of Australia; for its specific coloring in English it is also called pajama
With the help of the male's tentacles, male reproductive cells enter the female's body. After some time, eggs are laid (the moment of fertilization also occurs). Egg clutches are attached to underwater plants and are often black in color. Once the spawning is over, the adult cuttlefish die.
The most amazing of all mollusks are squid, cuttlefish And octopuses. They are called cephalopods, as their leg “moved” onto their head and turned into numerous long tentacles. Their body, typical of molluscs, is shellless, with the exception of cuttlefish, whose small, rod-shaped shell is located inside the body. These creatures are ferocious predators. Squids swim very quickly, octopuses hide among the rocks. In the event of an attack, cuttlefish and octopuses are able to release an inky liquid that makes it difficult for the predator to see, which gives the mollusk the opportunity to hide. Squids are predators with a streamlined body shape and fins - stabilizers at the rear end. Large eyes provide them with good vision. A pair of long tentacles are used to capture prey. In addition, they have eight shorter tentacles, also with suckers. Moving slowly, squids make a wave-like movement with their fins, and they achieve greater speed due to jet propulsion: sharply throwing out a stream of water from the mantle cavity.
The cuttlefish resembles a small squid with a fin located along the edge of the entire body. They are called the chameleons of the sea for their ability to change the color and pattern of their body in a matter of seconds. The skin of cuttlefish is decorated with tiny spots of different colors: yellow, red, brown and black. The animal can change their size by contracting special muscles, and create many shades by mixing colors.
The octopus has a pouch-shaped body, large eyes and eight long tentacles used to catch prey. Like other cephalopods, its beak-shaped mouth is surrounded by tentacles arranged in a circle. Octopus behavior is extremely complex and they are one of the most intelligent invertebrates. Octopuses are able to recognize different shapes of objects and choose the right one to get a portion of food. In addition, they learn to perform various tasks, for example, opening a box of food.
Only one group of cephalopods has a true external shell, like the others - the nautiluses. Their shiny shell is shaped like a spiral and is divided into chambers inside. In search of prey, nautiluses swim along the seabed, using more than thirty of their tentacles to hunt. Unlike other cephalopods, nautiluses do not release ink when threatened.
The nautilus swims slowly in the water column with tentacles extended from its shells. Several species of nautilus, or ship, are the last representatives of ancient cephalopods that had true shells.
The octopus' tentacles are covered with suction cups, which they use to hold prey and cling to rocks.
Argonaut looks like a nautilus, but is actually a type of octopus. Its shell is not real: the female constructs a thin-walled, paper-like shell to protect herself, eggs and, sometimes, a small male partner.
Some types of squid can glow. To create a glow, they have special organs, and some are even capable of directing light, like flashlights. This skill is not unimportant in the darkness of the depths of the sea.
To increase speed while swimming, the cuttlefish puts its tentacles together.
The blue-ringed octopus, native to the Indian and Pacific oceans, is small but deadly poisonous. A disturbed octopus becomes covered with bright blue spots.
The giant deep-sea squid is the largest mollusk and the largest animal among invertebrates. Its length with straightened tentacles is about 17 m. The squid's eyes are the largest among all animals - 40 cm in diameter. Moreover, the smallest squid is only 1 cm in length.
Cephalopods:
Octopus, squid and cuttlefish
- 650 types
- Marine
- Streamlined body shape (squid and cuttlefish)
- Squids and cuttlefish have 10 tentacles, octopuses have 8
Nautiluses
- 6 types
- Marine
- Large spiral sink
- Lots of tentacles
Cuttlefish (Sepia) belong to the class of cephalopods. About 30 modern species belong to this order. Cuttlefish are the smallest of all cephalopods. In most species, the body length reaches 20 cm, and in small species - 1.8-2 cm. Only one species - the broad-armed sepia - has a length of 150 cm including the “arms”. Cuttlefish live mainly near the shores in shallow waters in the tropical and subtropical seas of the Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea.
Structure
The structure of cuttlefish is in many ways similar to that of other cephalopods. Its body is represented by a skin-muscular sac (the so-called mantle) and has an elongated oval shape, slightly flattened and does not change in size (octopuses, for example, can easily squeeze into narrow crevices). In cuttlefish, the head is fused to the body. On the head there are large eyes with a complex structure and a slit-like pupil, and on its front part there is a kind of beak designed for crushing food. The beak is hidden between the tentacles.
Eight short arm tentacles and two long grasping tentacles extend from the body of the mollusk, all of which are studded with suckers. In a calm state, the cuttlefish’s “arms” are folded together and extended forward, thus giving the body a streamlined appearance. The grasping tentacles are hidden in special pockets under the eyes and fly out from there only during the hunt. In males, one of the arms differs in structure from the others and serves for fertilization of females.
On the sides of the cuttlefish's body there are fins, elongated in the form of a border, which are a means of facilitating movement. The cuttlefish accelerates its movement in the water through several sharp movements. It draws water into a compression chamber, which contracts to release water from a siphon located under the head. The mollusk changes direction by turning the opening of this siphon. The cuttlefish differs from other cephalopods by the presence of an internal calcareous shell in the form of a wide plate that covers its entire back and protects the internal organs. The cuttlefish's internal shell is made of aragonite. This substance forms the so-called “cuttlefish bone”, which is responsible for the buoyancy of the mollusk. The cuttlefish regulates its buoyancy by the ratio of gas and liquid inside this bone, which is divided into small chambers.
The remaining internal organs of cuttlefish are arranged in the same way as those of other representatives of cephalopods. This animal has three hearts: one heart for two gills and one heart for the rest of the body. The cuttlefish's blood is blue-green, due to the hemocyanin pigment it contains, which is saturated with copper-containing proteins, which are capable of “preserving” oxygen for a long time, preventing the mollusk from suffocating at great depths. Cuttlefish also have an ink sac that produces a very large amount of ink compared to other cephalopods. The ink substance is brown in color and is called sepia. Having such a protective agent, the cuttlefish uses it directly for protection as a last resort.
The color of cuttlefish is very variable. The structure of their skin contains three layers of chromatophores (coloring pigment cells): on the surface there is a light yellow layer, a middle layer of orange-yellow layer and a dark layer located under the previous two layers. The transition from one shade to another is regulated by the nervous system and occurs within a second. In terms of the variety of colors, the complexity of the pattern and the speed of its change, these animals have no equal. Some species of cuttlefish can luminesce. Color changes and luminescence are used by the mollusk for camouflage.
Reproduction
Cuttlefish live alone, very rarely in small flocks, and lead a sedentary lifestyle. During the breeding season, they form large aggregations and can migrate. Usually cuttlefish swim a short distance from the bottom, tracking down prey; when they see it, they freeze for a moment, and then quickly overtake the victim. When cuttlefish are in danger, they lie down on the bottom and cover themselves with sand with the flapping of their fins. These animals are very cautious and timid by nature. Cuttlefish hunt in the daytime and feed on various fish, shrimp, crabs, mollusks, worms - almost all organisms that move and do not exceed them in size. To increase the effectiveness of hunting, the mollusk blows a stream of water from a siphon into the sand and catches small animals washed by the stream. Cuttlefish swallow small animals whole, while large ones are cut up with their beaks.
Cuttlefish have many enemies, since their low speed of movement makes them vulnerable to predatory fish. These mollusks are eaten by dolphins, sharks and stingrays. Cuttlefish are sometimes called the "chameleons of the sea" for their good camouflage to match the color of their surroundings. When hunting or escaping predators, they rely more on their ability to camouflage rather than their protective ink.
Cuttlefish are dioecious animals. They reproduce once in a lifetime. The male treats the female with reverent tenderness, swimming nearby, he strokes her with his tentacles, while both flash with bright colors. The male introduces sperm to the female with a modified tentacle, and the eggs are fertilized during laying. The eggs of cuttlefish are black and look like bunches of grapes; when laid, the females attach them to underwater vegetation. Some time after spawning, adults die. The juveniles are born fully formed, having an ink sac and an internal shell. From the first moments of life they can use ink. Cuttlefish grow quickly, but do not live long - only 1-2 years.
Since ancient times, cuttlefish have been hunted by people for their tasty meat, which is used in Mediterranean and Chinese cuisine. Ground shell is included in a number of toothpastes. In the old days, the ink liquid of cuttlefish was used for writing, and in diluted form to prepare a special paint for artists - sepia. Therefore, people owe countless masterpieces of painting and writing to cuttlefish.
Cuttlefish is a mollusk belonging to the class of cephalopods. In the concept of people, it is associated with something nondescript and shapeless. In fact, cuttlefish are very beautiful.
Appearance of animals
The cuttlefish has an oval, slightly flattened body. The mantle (skin-muscle sac) forms its main part. The inner shell acts as a skeleton, and this distinctive feature is characteristic only of cuttlefish. It consists of a plate with internal cavities that provide the cuttlefish with buoyancy. The shell is located inside the body and protects the internal organs.
The head and body of the mollusk are fused. The cuttlefish's eyes are very large and can zoom in, with the pupil controlling the intensity of the light. On the head of the cuttlefish there is something similar to a beak, with which the mollusk extracts and crushes food. And also, like numerous cephalopods, the cuttlefish has an ink sac. This is a special organ, which is a dense capsule divided into two parts. One part contains ready-made ink, and the other contains special cells saturated with special grains of paint. When mature, the cells are destroyed and ink is formed. The ink sac produces a huge amount of ink. An empty bag is restored on average in half an hour.
The most famous types:
- Pharaoh's;
- crucifying (the most beautiful and poisonous);
- broad-armed (largest);
- striped (very poisonous).
The mollusk has eight tentacles and two anterior palps. Each of them has small suction cups. The front tentacles are hidden in pockets under the eyes and are used to attack prey. Elongated fins are located on the sides of the body and help the cuttlefish when moving.
Description of cuttlefish, coloring
A characteristic feature of these mollusks is the ability to change the color of their body. The color of cuttlefish is unusually diverse. This is possible thanks to skin chromatophore cells. The change in body color occurs consciously; the chromatophores obey the brain. This process occurs instantly, and the impression is formed that everything happens automatically. Cuttlefish cells are filled with special pigments of different colors.
In terms of variety of colors, complexity of patterns and speed of color changes, the mollusk has no equal. Certain species of cuttlefish are capable of luminescence. Color changes are used for camouflage. Patterns of different shapes carry certain information for relatives. The cuttlefish is one of the most intelligent species of invertebrates.
Shellfish sizes
Cuttlefish are relatively small in size compared to other cephalopods. The broad-armed sepia is the largest of the cuttlefish. Together with the tentacles, the body length is 1.5 m and the weight is approximately 10 kg. However, most individuals are smaller in size, their length is no more than 20-30 cm. There are also several species of very small size - up to 2 cm, which are considered the smallest cephalopods in the world.
Area
Where does cuttlefish live? And it lives only in shallow waters, in tropical and subtropical seas that wash the shores of Africa and Eurasia. However, the striped cuttlefish has also been found off the coast of Australia. Mollusks prefer to live alone, occasionally in small groups, and only during the breeding season do large aggregations of cuttlefish form. During the mating season, they can move around, but, as a rule, lead a sedentary life.
Clams swim shallowly and stick to the shoreline. Seeing prey, cuttlefish freeze for a second, and then quickly overtake the victim. When danger arises, the mollusks lie to the bottom and try to cover themselves with sand with their fins. The cuttlefish is a very cautious and timid mollusk.
Cuttlefish nutrition
From time to time, large individuals are able to eat smaller counterparts. This is not due to an aggressive nature, but more due to food indiscriminateness.
Shellfish eat almost anything that moves and does not exceed their own size. They feed on fish, crabs, shrimp, and shellfish. The cuttlefish blows a stream of water into the sand from the siphon, thereby raising it, and at this time the mollusk swallows small animals and cuts up larger ones with its beak. It will not be difficult for a cuttlefish to bite through the shell of a crab or the skull of a small fish.
Reproduction
The cuttlefish is an animal that reproduces only once. Mollusks migrate to comfortable places for laying eggs, forming schools of several thousand individuals along the way. Communication occurs by changing body color. With mutual sympathy, both mollusks glow with bright colors. Cuttlefish eggs are mostly black and resemble grapes. After laying eggs, adult cuttlefish die. Cephalopods are born already formed. From birth, small cuttlefish are able to use ink. Cuttlefish live on average 1-2 years.
Nutritional value of shellfish meat
Cuttlefish is a source of excellent meat, which contains valuable unsaturated acids - eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, which protect against many diseases of the cardiovascular system. These elements also reduce the level of triglycerides in the blood, preventing the formation of blood clots and blockage of arteries.
Cuttlefish meat contains vitamins B2, B12, A, nicotinic and folic acids. In addition, shellfish meat is rich in minerals. In addition to useful substances, meat contains impurities such as cadmium and mercury. Nutritionists recommend eating no more than two servings per week.
Useful properties of ink
- Improves mood and fights emotional problems.
- Helps in the treatment of reproductive diseases.
- Eliminate symptoms of digestive disorders.
- Helps in the treatment of skin diseases.
In ancient times, ink liquid was used for writing. Cuttlefish ink is included in medicines. This substance has a calming effect.
The ink is used in the production of food colorings and seasonings. They give dishes a special black color and an excellent salty taste. Ready-to-use ink is sold in stores. Ink is also used to make sauces that have a bright and unique taste. Cuttlefish ink contains elements that help metabolism and have anti-inflammatory effects.
Interesting facts about cephalopods
- The cuttlefish has three hearts. Two hearts are used to pump blood to the gills, and the third is used to circulate oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
- The blood of cuttlefish contains a protein called hemocyanin, which is used to carry oxygen. That's why her blood is blue-green.
- Cuttlefish is a mollusk that can imitate the shape and texture of surrounding objects. The mollusk changes its color by expanding or retracting small tubercles located throughout its body, thanks to which it practically merges with sand, cobblestones and other surfaces.
- Males, in order to court the female and not attract the attention of others, repaint themselves in an interesting camouflage. They paint one half of the body with colorful paint, and camouflage the other half as females, imitating muted tones.
- Cuttlefish can see well in low light conditions, as well as what is behind them.
- Cuttlefish are able to imitate the dynamic movements of algae on their bodies to become invisible. Or they organize a color show to catch prey.
- Mollusks skillfully defend themselves from enemies, but their relatively low rate of movement makes them vulnerable to their pursuers: dolphins and sharks.
Cuttlefish is also an interesting object for aquarists. However, keeping them is not easy because the mollusks are very shy, often releasing ink into the water, and it becomes opaque. After a certain amount of time, the cuttlefish gets used to the owner and ceases to be afraid of him.
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